Apple Feast of the Saviour 2016

Curator: In this piece, labor, specifically the labor of making, becomes incredibly blurred. Think about how a piece like this can deconstruct the boundary between fine art and craft. Editor: This is "Apple Feast of the Saviour" by Babak-Matveev, created in 2016. It's, well, it's quite a striking image, isn't it? Almost overwhelming in its detail and the sheer volume of…stuff. I'm curious, what strikes you most about it? Curator: Consider the performative aspect embedded in the act of 'dressing up'—the artist’s subject adorned in national dress, elaborate floral headdress, and what appears to be staged. Think about these materials and how they relate to concepts of nationalism and perhaps even idealized rural life. Are they challenging those concepts, reinforcing them, or something else? Editor: So you are focusing less on, say, the idyllic imagery itself and more on what it communicates about this constructed identity. I can see how the visual abundance almost parodies the idea of traditional celebration. But it still *looks* so joyful on the surface! Curator: Exactly! That tension is crucial. Also, how much of this scene do you believe is digital versus what elements of the piece are practical? Thinking about the production informs my reading of the subject. Consider this use of software to alter and assemble— is this labor devalued in relation to “painting”, and why? Editor: Wow, I hadn't even thought about the digital manipulation element that informs my understanding! How labor practices impact value and what counts as "art." Thank you! Curator: Of course. Remember to analyze and appreciate not only the “what” but also always question the “how” and the “why” behind any work you’re interrogating. Editor: Thanks for illuminating all these fascinating nuances! I'll definitely view art through a more materialist lens now.